Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
"What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection

This passage opens up one's imagination to wonder what did the disciples see in Jesus that made them leave everything and follow him? Seems clear that they may well have misunderstood it, thinking that they were going to be part of a new temple, a powerful temple that would be taking care of people, and being in charge of them.

And we know that one of the deepest wounds of the church, of all religion, all churches, is a confusion between power over people and empowering people to be who God wants them to be. That's what they were going to learn. That's what Jesus is pointing to when he said, the greatest thing you can be is a servant. To give your life for someone else.

Closing Prayer

Father, human nature never leaves us. It's always with us. We always know that there's a way in which our ego will always want to put ourselves first. And that shouldn't be something that embarrasses us or makes us feel there's something wrong with us. It is called the human condition. But what we learn when we listen to you, listen to your message. We learn that what we're really made for is not to be better than or in charge of things, but to be a participant in them by enabling them to be what they're intended to be, by our conviction that you are part of this process. Bless us with that awareness of our role. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross